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The orphans were very calm this morning. There was no pushing and shoving during the milk feeding time, nor even when they started to come out of their stockades. They settled quietly for lucerne and shortly later were joined by Mutara’s herd. When the orphans had enough lucerne, Sana Sana led the way out to browse for the day. 

It seems Mundusi and Rapa missed playing games earlier in the morning, because it wasn’t long before they started a pushing game with one another. Their game didn't last for long however as Wanjala passed by and pushed the two boys away. Maramoja teamed up with her Musiara to browse while Malkia took care of Naboishu. The day was getting hot and the orphans decided to browse under some trees for shade. Esampu ran into trouble with Sapalan when she tried to break a branch that Sapalan had his eyes on. Esampu had to drop the branch just to restore peace. Sapalan took the branch then warned Esampu not to repeat such a mistake again. 

At mud bath time, twenty-eight wild bulls were present. The orphans had their milk then walked to the water trough to join the wild bulls drinking. Dololo was escorted for a soil dusting exercise by Suguta and Turkwel. The rest of the herd decided to walk to the roadside mud bath where they had fun before they resumed browsing. Enkikwe as usual failed to turn up at to the mud bath as he had joined his friends Olsekki and Siangiki, who together with their friends are in the process of trying to detach themselves from the junior orphans and stockade life. In the afternoon, Kamok had a quiet time with Ambo as the two browsed a distance away from the rest of the herd. In the evening Yatta and Nasalot’s families came for water and were joined by several groups of wild herds. 

Four buffaloes competed for water with some wild elephants this morning. Two of the buffaloes couldn't withstand the force of the wild bulls, but the other two stood their ground and managed to get the water they seriously needed. Two wild elephant family units joined the dependent orphans to feed on lucerne too. One of the wild babies charged at Rapa simply because he was too close to his mother. Esampu saw how the baby was acting and offered to bring a truce between Rapa and the baby; she approached the baby and tried to calm it down, which worked and the baby soon settled down, while Rapa walked away to avoid any further trouble. 

Mapia took a break from feeding to enjoy a soil dusting exercise that went on for ages, right up until the orphans started to walk to the mud bath for their noon milk feed. Over forty wild bulls showed up for water and bathing while the orphans were there. In the afternoon, the orphans were joined by Yatta and Nasalot’s families. Shortly later, the ex-orphans left with Olsekki, Siangiki, Oltaiyoni, Tusuja, Naseku, Roi, Mteto, Enkikwe and Wanjala. Later in the evening, the ex-orphans brought the orphans they had taken with them back though. Surprisingly, Olsekki and co refused to go into the stockade and decided to stay out with the ex-orphans for the night! 

Wendi and her baby Wema were outside the stockades this morning. We hadn’t seen these two for quite some time! Wiva, Wendi’s other daughter, wasn’t with them, but we are sure she is with the other ex-orphans in Wendi’s herd, as they have always been exceptional nannies towards her. Yatta and Nasalot’s families were also present. Mteto and Esampu headed straight to greet Noah and Yogi. Two buffaloes walked up to the water trough where they were hoping to get some water, but they met resistance from the elephant orphans. Sattao and Nabulu charged and tried to block the two buffaloes from having any water. The buffaloes remained defiant until Sities came and helped Sattao and Nabulu in driving them away. Shortly later, Sana Sana led the orphans out to browse, as Kamok, Kauro and Enkikwe lagged behind. Finally, the buffaloes were able to get some water too! Meanwhile, the ex-orphans split from the dependent orphans and headed north. 

Jotto played with Malkia as Mteto settled to browse Malima. The two girls parted ways soon after exhausting the shrub that they were sharing. Sapalan and Mundusi sneaked off early and headed to the mud bath where they waited for the milk van. The two boys wanted to be the first ones to have their milk bottles! The weather was chilly and none of the orphans dared to step into the mud bathing water. Sapalan kept on going back and trying to get an extra bottle, but the Keepers were onto him and kept sending him away! Sapalan became angry and to express his frustration, he picked up a log of wood and tried to throw it in the air. The log was too heavy though and he couldn't throw it properly, so Sapalan dropped it on the road and left. Kamok supervised the soil dusting exercise that Maramoja, Sattao and Musiara were enjoying. Only four wild bulls showed up for water at the mud bath while the orphans were there today. Tusuja and Kauro joined them briefly to drink some water, before leaving to join their friends. 

In the afternoon, the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing. Yatta, Yoyo and Yogi joined the orphans briefly before heading off again. Ex-orphan bull Buchuma visited the stockades in the evening with some wild friends. 

Ex-orphan bull Taita arrived at the Ithumba compound before dawn and joined Mutara’s herd who had spent the night just outside the stockades. Taita is 19 years old now and becoming a big and handsome bull. Lenana and Lapa, who have been away for sometime too, were also present for the morning lucerne feeding time. Yatta and Nasalot’s families arrived later, as the dependent orphans were preparing to leave. Maramoja and Sana Sana interacted briefly with Lapa before moving on to join Mteto and Esampu who were playing with Noah and Yogi. Mutara and her herd led the orphans out to browse. Ambo teamed up with Rapa to browse as Sapalan and Wanjala settled for a morning soil dusting exercise. 

Siangiki and her small team of rebels parted ways with the other orphans and left to an undisclosed location. Enkikwe, Sapalan and Wanjala, who appear to be liking the company of Siangiki’s group, dodged the Keepers and also left to join the other group. Ndiwa and Jotto took sometime off from feeding to warmup by having a pushing game. Dololo and Musiara, who always have to push one another the moment they meet, had a pushing game after accidentally bumping into each other. Over the many times they have had their pushing games, no clear winner has ever emerged, and this is bound to continue until one is evidently stronger than the other – if that ever happens! Rapa and Kuishi carried the branches they were enjoying on the way to the mud bath. The weather was chilly, and the orphans only had their milk bottles and some water before returning back to the bush, led by Sana Sana. Only three wild bulls joined the orphans for water this morning. 

In the afternoon, ex-orphans Kibo, Chemi Chemi, Kandecha and several wild bulls including Dad showed up at the stockades for water. The orphans had a quiet afternoon and returned home safely later in the evening. Olsekki, Roi, Oltaiyoni, Naseku, Galla and Tusuja didn't return on time but came back shortly after midnight. 

Mutara, the new baby and her small group spent the night just outside the stockades. Suguta, Kalama and Sities didn't allow the dependent orphans to get anywhere close to Mutara's baby. Try as they might, Esampu, Mteto, Malkia and Sana Sana couldn’t get any access to the new baby boy. The four girls gave up and hoped that sooner or later they would get a chance to interact with the new baby. Buchuma is still around and joined the dependent orphans briefly as they fed on lucerne. One wild herd with young babies also joined the group for lucerne. Eventually Mutara and her herd left, as soon as they were finished with the supplement food. A buffalo tried to come for water but got it rough when Kauro, Wanjala, Mundusi, Esampu, Sana Sana and Rapa ganged up to drive the buffalo away. The buffalo had no choice but to run away and come back later when the orphans left and it was a bit quieter. Mutara, her baby (who we have called Mambo), Sities, Turkwel, Kainuk, Suguta and Kalama left to a secluded area with less interference and less crowded for the safety of the newborn. 

The dependent orphans settled to browse in the Kone area and had a quiet morning. At mud bath time, thirty wild bulls showed up for water while the orphans were there. The orphans interacted with them briefly before leaving to continue browsing for the rest of the day. It was a very hot afternoon and the orphans decided to take a break and relax under some trees with good shade. Later, Enkikwe, Mteto, Wanjala and Sapalan left in search of the ex-orphans and ended up reporting back to the stockades early for once, around five o'clock in the evening. =

The dependent orphans enjoyed their usual morning routine this morning in the company of some wild elephants and ex-orphans. Mutara and her baby also were present. 

Out in the bush, the orphans enjoyed concentrating on browsing. It was very hot and some orphans like Galla decided to hide under some shade. Later the orphans walked to the mud bath for their milk feed. When they arrived, they found a group of wild bulls drinking water and wallowing. The orphans had their milk and just a few decided to walk into the mud bath to wallow. Esampu was the most playful as she frolicked in the water and then came out to dry herself on the loose soil. The rest of the herd simply walked back out to the bush to continue browsing. 

It was another hot and dry afternoon, and we could see the orphans concentrating on filling their tummies, and not messing about with any games. Later Wanjala took a break and started playing, whilst Mteto rested her trunk on him. Rapa was play-fighting with Sana Sana and later in the evening, Malima led the group back home in the evening again for their milk bottles and extra supplement food.

It was back to being a busy morning today as we had a big group of wild elephants and more ex-orphans who visited us this morning, including Yatta and Mutara’s herds. The dependent orphans had their milk bottles and walked down as usual for some lucerne and to interact with the ex-orphans and wild elephants there. Lualeni and her two babies were also around with Lulu competing with Lexi on who could breastfeed from their mum. In the end Lexi started playing with Yogi instead. Mulika was there with Mwende and Mkuu too. The large pack of 16 wild dogs came by for water and then ran off into the bush, as Makena, Olare and Chaimu ran and chased them away. 

Out in the bush the dependent orphans happily browsed the whole morning, with Siangiki sticking close to Larro and Maramoja to Musiara, Naboishu and Mukkoka. 

At the mud bath the orphans had their noon milk bottle and then walked to the mud bath - it was very hot today and they all wallowed peacefully there without being disturbed by any ex-orphans or wild elephants. Only a few wild bulls were playing on the opposite side of the mud wallow, others were tired and resting in the shade of the trees beside the mud bath. Some of the orphans went to play on the pile of loose soil, and Sapalan seemed to enjoy playing there the most. Esampu joined him and then all the dependent orphans started to file back out to the bush to continue with their afternoon of browsing.

Larro and Mukkoka chose to browse together side by side. It was very hot and some of the orphans chose simply to rest in the shade. Kamok and Malkia shared some shade from the same tree, but not far away Jotto and Ambo were playing and wrestling with each other. Larro led the herd back home in the evening for their milk bottles. 

When the orphans returned home, Wendi and her second-born baby Wema were there with a few wild elephants. They had some water and then walked off into the bush.

It is getting ever drier in the area, exemplified by the many numbers of elephants spending so much of their day drinking water at the stockade and at the mud bath. It is becoming so very hot and most of the elephants are opting to feed during the night and early morning hours and relax under trees during the heat of the day from midday onwards. 

The orphans left their stockades early as usual and settled for their lucerne supplements. Larro and Mukkoka shared their lucerne and when it came for them to head out for the day it was Larro who took the lead. Given that it is so dry at the moment, the orphans had no time to play but concentrated mostly on browsing. 

Shortly before mud bath time, Musiara and Ambo had a disagreement that turned into a fight. We aren’t sure what their fight was about but eventually the Keepers went over to separate them and make them go their separate ways. The orphans joined more than forty wild bulls who had come to drink water at the mud bath. Esampu, Jotto, Nabulu and Mukkoka are the only ones who decided to get into the water and enjoy a brief mud bath before joining their friends who had opted for a soil dusting exercise instead. 

Lemoyian joined the dependent orphans in the afternoon and had a pushing game with Rapa, but Rapa decided to quit when the going got too tough for him. In the evening, Esampu, Mteto, Sapalan and Enkikwe slipped past their friends and disappeared, only to show up at the compound shortly before midnight in the company of the ex-orphans. 

Soon after finishing their morning milk, the dependent orphans joined the ex-orphans and wild elephants outside the stockades as they patiently waited for lucerne. It has become the norm these days driven by the current dry conditions that both ex-orphans and wild elephants visit the stockades every morning for a special breakfast. Ndiwa, Esampu and Karisa tried to make friends with baby Lexi who appeared totally indifferent. The three eventually got tired of trying to befriend Lexi and Karisa decided to lead the dependent orphans out to begin their day. Mteto, Sapalan, Enkikwe and Esampu decided to stay behind as they were still enjoying the company of the ex-orphans. 

The orphans had a quiet morning as they crisscrossed the bush trying to get enough food for the day. At mud bath time, Enkikwe, Esampu, Wanjala and Sapalan didn't turn up for their noon bottles as they were out there with the ex-orphans learning a thing or two about living in the wild. A lot of wild bulls occupied the water trough drinking water beside the mid bath. Malima and Sattao displayed their bravery by walking up and joining the huge wild bulls there to have some water too. The bulls didn't bother the orphans but allowed them to share water with them. 

In the afternoon, the dependent orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. It was very hot and the orphans decided to take a break by relaxing under some trees, but they resumed browsing later when it became a bit cooler. In the evening, as usual lots of wild elephants and ex-orphans reported to the stockade compound for water. Noticeable were mothers with their babies, Naserian and Njema, Mutara and Mambo, Sunyei and Saba and Nasalot with Noah. The late-night gang didn't turn up tonight.

Mulika, Mwende, Mkuu, Taita, Chemi Chemi, Naserian, Njema, Mutara, baby Mambo, Sities, Turkwel, Suguta, Chaimu, Galana, Gawa, Yatta, Yoyo and Yetu joined the dependent orphans to feed on lucerne this morning. Sattao and Musiara tried to play with Mkuu but his older sister Mwende wouldn't allow it and pushed the two boys away. The two young boys fled but they decided not to give up. They waited nearby, keeping an eye on Mwende's movements so that they could jump at the opportunity to play with Mkuu as soon as Mwende’s back was turned. This never happened however as Mwende was too smart for that and had anticipated Musiara and Sattao’s next move, and she stuck very close to her little brother! 

The dependent orphans headed southeast while the ex-orphans headed west. When a male lesser kudu emerged from the thicket, Mundusi, Pare, Jotto and Dololo were the first to spot it and decided to show the kudu that they rule the bush. The four boys charged in unison and drove the kudu out of their way. The kudu disappeared the moment it saw the boys approaching however, bringing the drama to an abrupt end. 

Later in the morning, Pare engaged Jotto in a strength testing match. Pare won and decided to demonstrate his victory in the usual manner by climbing on the back of the looser, who in this case happened to be Jotto. Challa joined the orphans at the mud bath around noon and had water with them before parting ways. Several wild bulls attended the mud bath and the number kept on growing while the orphans were there; eventually they decided to walk to the roadside mud bath instead, to give enough space for the wild bulls at the main waterhole. 

The orphans spend the rest of the afternoon west of Ithumba Hill. Kuishi, Malkia and Sana Sana teamed up to browse while Esampu, Malima, Mteto and Musiara moved a distance away from their friends and settled to browse there. The rest of the group took a break from feeding and only resumed later on when the temperature dropped to a more favourable level. 

Heavy clouds covered the sky this morning. This is an indication of the rainy season drawing closer, if at we will get any at all! Due to climate change, the seasons are becoming unpredictable, and this is very worrying. Lualeni, Lexi and Lulu were sleeping comfortably outside the stockade compound when they were awoken by the commotion of the orphans as they had their first milk feed and were let out to begin their day. Ndiwa, Mteto and Esampu headed straight to greet Lulu and Lexi. The orphans settled for lucerne with Lualeni and her family. A few other wild bulls joined in briefly but left after tasting the lucerne and not enjoying it. Naboishu was the first one to have enough lucerne and he walked to one of the water troughs and helped himself with enough water that would see him throughout the entire morning. 

Out in the bush Karisa held a brief meeting with Pare, about what we are not sure, but soon after their discussion the two boys had a friendly pushing match. Kainuk emerged from nowhere and separated the two boys. Karisa headed for a soil dusting exercise while Pare moved to tackle Jotto. Sana Sana and Malkia teamed up with Mukkoka and Larro to browse together. Lualeni and her family joined the orphans again when they were in the Kanziku area and accompanied them to the mud bath. Lualeni passed through where the orphans were being fed and, unknowingly to the Keepers, grabbed an empty milk bottle thinking that it had milk in it… or perhaps she just felt like being mischievous! The Keepers moved swiftly and confiscated the milk bottle from her. Lulu didn't know what was happening between her mother and the Keepers and so ran a head of her mother! In the afternoon the orphans were joined briefly by Wendi, Wema and Galana. In the evening, all the dependent orphans returned safely to the stockades for the night. 

Two wild herds joined the orphans to feed on lucerne this morning. Among them were three tiny babies accompanying their mothers and Malkia, Sana Sana, Mteto, Esampu and Malima took their time to play with the young babies. Their interaction ended when the wild mothers rumbled signalling to their herd that it was time to go. The girls saw the babies off and hoped that they might show up another day. The orphans left shortly after the wild herd left and settled to browse in the Kone area. They had a quiet morning until they were joined by Mutara’s herd. Nabulu, Larro and Maramoja tried to interact with baby Mambo but the security was so tight as Suguta, Sities, Turkwel and Kainuk didn't allow the young girls to come close to Mambo, building a tight wall around the little boy. Maramoja, Nabulu and Larro were disappointed and walked away hoping that Mambo might soon be big enough to decide who he wants to play with himself. 

As the orphans made their way to the mud bath for their milk bottles, they were joined by Lualeni, Lulu, Lexi, Njema, Naserian, Narok, Chaimu, Makena, Wendi, Wema, Sunyei, Siku, Saba, Lapa, Lenana, Yatta, Yoyo, Yogi, Yetu and Kalama. The orphans had their milk then headed straight back out to browse. Before they left, Nabulu had a disagreement with Lulu when Lulu tried to block Nabulu from greeting Saba. Nabulu warned Lulu that if it wasn't her mother standing close by, she would have taught her a lesson that she would never forget. Nabulu walked off but not without smacking Lulu with her trunk! The afternoon was a quiet one as the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing. 

Kilaguni, Mutara, Mambo, Sities, Turkwel, Kainuk, Suguta, Kalama and Chaimu joined the orphans to feed on lucerne in the morning. Mutara has been wise all along and has never moved far away from the stockades. She is always at the stockades every morning to get some lucerne that will help her have enough milk for her son. Whenever she is in need of water, sometimes she leaves her son with her lieutenants Sities, Suguta, Turkwel and Kainuk who she really trusts, Suguta being the senior of all three.

Out in the bush Sapalan settled to browse with Karisa and later teamed up with Jotto in a rolling game. Mutara and her team joined the orphans for browsing. Ndiwa got the rare opportunity to say hello to Mambo, as Sana Sana spent the better part of the morning browsing with Naboishu. Mutara and her team escorted the orphans to the mud bath. None of the orphans dared to touch the mud bathing water today and after having their milk, the orphans headed to the roadside mud bath. Mutara took her team for soil dusting exercise and thereafter followed the dependent orphans. 

The afternoon was quiet and shortly before returning to the stockades in the evening, Enkikwe, Esampu, Sapalan and Rapa went missing. The four orphans returned later and joined their friends in the stockade. Musiara and Dololo, who never see eye to eye with each other for some reason, became locked in a fight as each wanted to be first in line on the way back to the stockades. The two have never had a clear winner amongst themselves though; their fights always end in a draw. Only when one of them might emerge victorious will there be more respect between the two of them, until then, their drama will continue!

In the morning, a wild baby was in the water trough with her mother standing by its side. It appears the rest of the group had left in the early hours, but the mother refused to leave her baby behind. Using a tractor and a truck, the mother was moved a distance away so the baby could be pulled out. The Keepers acted as quickly as possible and the baby was safely retrieved from the water trough. The tractor and the truck drove off, allowing the mother to reunite with her baby. 

A crazy wild bull emerged from nowhere and without any reason started nearly kicking the baby. Suguta tried to intervene, but the wild bull was very strong. The Keepers decided to step in and drove the wild bull away. The wild mother was provided with some lucerne which she was very grateful for. Sapalan, Mukkoka, Kithaka and Sities walked down to join the wild mother. Later, Yatta and her herd showed up and joined the wild mother – this is clearly her first baby and she is a little inexperienced so perhaps our ex-orphans, who have quite a number of babies between them now, imparted some wisdom with her. 

The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area where Musiara and Ambo engaged in a strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. Karisa had a brief meeting with Kuishi, but no one had any idea what they were discussing. Later, Karisa decided to have fun by rolling on the ground. Kauro took advantage of this and decided to climb on Karisa’s back. Kithaka played with Jotto while Dololo challenged Mundusi. The temperature was moderate as the orphans made their way to the mud bath, so they had their milk, some water and shortly afterwards returned to browsing. A buffalo who was wandering in the bushes got the attention of the orphans. Rapa, Nabulu, Sattao, Pare and Esampu ganged up and decided to charge at it! The buffalo decided to avoid all this drama by opting to run away, so the orphans quickly got bored and went back to browsing rather than pursuing the buffalo. Yatta and her herd showed up again in the evening at the stockades, but and left shortly after having enough water. 

Ambo took a short cut to the lucerne store soon after the orphans were let out. This is a habit he has developed recently, but the Keepers informed Ambo that he should walk down and join his friends to wait for lucerne the usual way, as by taking a short cut he might teach some of the others the same bad manners and they will just all come straight to the store each morning. Ambo walked reluctantly down to join his friends to wait for the Keepers to distribute the lucerne out. 

Kauro ran into trouble with Kalama when he refused to share his lucerne with her. Kalama pushed Kauro for refusing to part with his share, but Kauro saw no need in sharing since there was so much lucerne on the ground and he thought Kalama ought to find her own share. Shortly later, Yatta and her herd arrived. As it started to get busier the orphans opted to give space to their seniors and left one by one as they headed towards the area known as Kone. 

The orphans had a quiet morning as they concentrated mostly on browsing. Mutara and her security team arrived and joined the orphans to browse. The security team that included Sities, Suguta, Kainuk and Turkwel didn't allow the orphans anywhere close to Mambo! Nabulu and Esampu tried to go round and round to access Mambo, but they didn't succeed.  

At mud bath time the orphans skipped the wallowing session again after finishing their milk. They walked to settle to browse in the Kanziku area as they waited for rains that are becoming rather elusive. Only time will tell when the rains will come, or if we get any. In the evening, Sapalan teamed up with the late-night gang and only came back to the stockades late in the evening.